The MIT Water Innovation Prize is a startup competition focused on water innovation. Submitted projects must involve a technology, product, service, or process aimed at solving a problem related to the world’s water challenges. Entering teams must include at least one student who is fully enrolled at any college or university. There are no restrictions regarding nationality. Winners will be awarded innovation grants of up to US$50 thousand. The application deadline for the statement of intent is 31 December 2025. Water Innovation Prize
awards/prizes
Grawemeyer Awards — Idea Competition
The Grawemeyer Awards recognize transformative, practical ideas that promote world peace, global security, human rights, or international cooperation. The award focuses on specific works, such as books, essays or analytical papers, that offer new and practical ways to improve world order. The competition is open to individuals or teams anywhere in the world. The award includes a US$100 thousand prize. Entries must be submitted by 30 January 2026. Grawemeyer Awards
Harvard University — Arboretum Research Scholar Award
The Arboretum Research Scholar Award supports early-career scientists, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers conducting plant-focused research that aligns with the Arboretum’s living collections, herbarium, archives, or scientific priorities in areas such as botany, ecology, evolution, and conservation. Awardees receive up to US$10 thousand to support research expenses including travel, lodging, materials, or access to Arboretum resources. The program is open to researchers worldwide, and projects may be short-term or exploratory in nature. Applications are accepted until 01 February 2026. Arboretum Research Scholar Award
International Fund for Animal Welfare — International Youth Art Contest
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) invites young artists worldwide to submit original hand-drawn artwork to the World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest 2026. The theme is “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods”. Finalists and winners will be showcased at the official World Wildlife Day (March 2026). The contest is free to enter, and all artwork must be created with traditional media (markers, crayons, colored pencils, or paint), scanned or photographed in high resolution, and submitted online by 01 February 2026. Youth Art Contest
Food and Agriculture Organization — Recognizing Excellence in Agriculture and Food Security
The FAO Achievement Award recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions to sustainable agriculture, rural development, and food security. Winners receive a scroll of recognition and a cash prize of US$10 thousand. Nominations can be submitted by national or regional institutions through FAO Representatives. The award is presented annually during World Food Day. The nomination period closes on 15 February 2026. FAO Achievement Award
Royal Society — Darwin Medal
The Darwin Medal recognizes outstanding contributions to the study of evolution, population biology, organismal biology, or biodiversity, in the spirit of Charles Darwin’s legacy. It is open to scientists of any nationality, with no age or career-stage restrictions, and is awarded biennially based on nominations rather than direct applications. The medal comes with a £2,000 monetary award and a silver-gilt medal. Nominations are submitted by peers, institutions, or learned societies. The closing date for nominations is 20 February 2026. Nominate here
Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Community Resilience Prize
The Macquarie Community Resilience Prize seeks technology-enabled solutions building climate-resilient communities while creating meaningful employment and skill-building opportunities in Brazil, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. The prize is open to organizations, startups, NGOs, social enterprises, and innovators worldwide, particularly those working directly with vulnerable or frontline communities. Selected winners receive US$50 thousand in grant funding. The application deadline is 25 February 2026. Details here
European Commission — STARTS Prize 2026
STARTS Prize is an innovation challenge of the European Commission honoring innovative artistic projects inspired by technology, industry, and society. Projects from all fields of technological and scientific research and development that have been inspired by art or involve artists as catalysts of novel thinking are eligible. Artists or researchers from all around the world can participate. Two prizes, each with €20 thousand prize money, are awarded. The submission phase ends on 05 March 2026. See this call
New Leaders Initiative — Youth Awards for Environmental Leadership
The Brower Youth Awards for Environmental Leadership honors and recognizes the leadership efforts of young people who are working for the protection of the planet. Recipients will receive a US$3,000 cash prize, a professionally produced short film about their work, and flight and lodging accommodations for a weeklong trip to the San Francisco Bay Area. Youth environmental change leaders ages 13 to 22 living in North America (including Mexico, Canada, and some Caribbean Islands) are encouraged to apply. The application deadline for submission is 31 March 2026. Brower Youth Awards
Fiat Panis Foundation — Prize for Master Thesis in Food Security
The Fiat Panis Foundation makes awards for university thesis and dissertation research in themes of agriculture, ecology, and natural resources, with a focus on food security in developing countries. The Hans Hartwig Ruthenberg Graduate Award is €7.5 thousand in support of qualified young scientists by honoring their excellent master thesis in the field of food security. The deadline for submissions (German, English) is 30 April 2026. Ruthenberg Graduate Award